plate no. 5968
Portrait of Conrad Rehlinger and his Children
Bernhard Strigel, 1517
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in portraiture, figure painting, and rendering of fabrics and textures. It also offers practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement of the subjects.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas, focusing on accurate value relationships.
- step 04
Begin refining the details of the faces, clothing, and background.
- step 05
Pay attention to the subtle gradations of light and shadow to create form.
- step 06
Add details to the background and the religious scene.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details of the figures and clothing.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
Mix blacks and browns with small amounts of red and blue to create depth. Use white sparingly to create highlights and subtle gradations of tone.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·figure painting
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
- →Using too much white and creating a chalky effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve flow.
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